Gulf Shores, Alabama. Can u share info ?

[Keeper]

Property taxes are MUCH lower in AL, plus I think you get more house for the money in AL. Consider this.. FL property tax for $158K a little less than $3K, in AL $325.00.

Foley, Robertsdale, Summerdale, Magnolia Springs, Lillian and Elberta are all close but not right on the beach.

[Southlander]

David, one nice thing about Alabama - just a few hours' drive and you are in the Smokies...or Tennessee...or Texas...or Florida...Atlanta is not that far; New Orleans a couple of hours. 4 hours gets you to Birmingham and world-class medical facilities...an hour to Mobile and you're at a medical training facility (U of South Alabama medical school).
Something to think about.

[StazzyBeach]

For the price range you are looking for, now is a great time for buyers. (As a seller, it's a terrible time for us). There is so much inventory and the price values have dropped tremendously. The average person can now afford something by the beach. HOWEVER, the home insurance problem is a tricky one. There are still companies that write for the Alabama Coast, and if they do they may be costly. If insurance ends up slowing your search down. Find out the insurance writing boundaries and visit communities in those areas.

[Alatex]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Property taxes are MUCH lower in AL, plus I think you get more house for the money in AL. Consider this.. FL property tax for $158K a little less than $3K, in AL $325.00.

Foley, Robertsdale, Summerdale, Magnolia Springs, Lillian and Elberta are all close but not right on the beach.

Yeah, I'd agree with this.

I'd recommend Daphne-Spanish Fort over the whole lot, to be honest.
You're very close to the bay but for an "inland price," you're close enough to Mobile to have all of the city amenities (Pensacola is surprisingly lacking, in comparison), plus you're still just a 30-minute drive to Gulf Shores, all with Alabama's low property taxes.